Stephen Bates was charged with multiple counts of possessing child pornography after a five-year investigation.
A New Hampshire pastor has been charged with multiple counts of possessing child pornography after a five-year investigation, according to court documents.
“I think this case is particularly concerning because he is a pastor and somebody that’s involved in the community here,” Nashua Police Lt. Brian TrefryThe Nashua Police Department has been investigating Bates since 2016, when the department received 14 tips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children alleging that a user at the church had uploaded CSAM from an IP address leading back to the church.
“Pastor Bates was considered a person of interest during the earlier investigations but until [March 15] there wasn’t sufficient evidence to charge him with any crimes,” a press release from the police department states. Between 2019 and 2021, Nashua Police continued to receive tips pointing back to the Bible Baptist Church office. Police authorized a federal search warrant and investigated electronic devices at the church, including Bates’ personal phone, but found nothing of significance. Bates continued to tell investigators that he never consumed child pornography.